Computers, scanners and digital cameras have brought a new ambiance to scrapbooking. Sure, most of us have probably used the computer for journaling and creating titles. Some of us have even printed and reprinted numerous photos from our digital cameras and/or scanned images to be used on layouts. The question here is...have you ever created a scrapbook layout by just using your computer? In this article I will show you how fun and easy it is to create layouts using Adobe® Photoshop® Elements 2.0. Within no time at all, you will have masterpiece scrapbook layouts to print out, publish to the web or e-mail to loved ones.

No matter what level you are (beginner, intermediate or advanced), everyone must start at the same place. Open your Adobe® Photoshop® Elements. Click the file menu on the tool bar, then click open and choose the program where you store your photographs. Open the photograph/photographs you want to use for your layout. Because you will be resizing your photos, you will want to work with a copy and not the original, so for each photo you choose click on the edit menu and then duplicate image (close the originals after making the copies). To resize your image, click on the image menu and select resize and then select image size. An image size box will open, in the document size boxes (width/height) type in the dimensions (in inches) you want your photo to be and then change the resolution to 300dpi (for e-mail/web use 72dpi)-click OK. For photos that need to be rotated, click the image menu and select rotate, rotating to the direction you need. Create your background by clicking the new document icon on the tool bar. A "new" box will open-type in width, height (12"x12" or 8.5"x11"), resolution and mode RGB color -click OK.

With your photos chosen and your background set, it is time to start having fun and create your masterpiece! To choose your background color, open the Swatch box in the upper right hand corner, select a color and then click your mouse on the paint bucket icon (located on the vertical tool bar). Click onto your canvas and create the background color. Choose one of your photos, then click the select menu and then select all. Copy and paste the photo onto the background you created. Move your photo by clicking the move tool icon, and then click the photo and drag to where you want it placed. Repeat this step for other photos. Next, click on the text icon, choose your font and size, put your curser on your background and type your title and journaling. To draw lines to frame your photos, choose the pencil icon, a color from the swatch box and the brush size. Click where you want the line to start, hold down the shift button and click where you want the line to stop.

For the more intermediate to advanced: play around with multiple fonts, rotate your written words, enlarge a photo for your background, change the opacity giving it a vellum look ...the possibilities are endless. The more you become familiar with your program, the more you can add digitally to your scrapbook pages.

So what are you waiting for, create a page and e-mail it to someone you love today!